The parables of the kingdom of heaven found in Matthew give us a view of the present time when our Lord Jesus Christ, the King, is in heaven and His kingdom is on earth. The “kingdom of heaven” is a territorial term; it refers to the sphere on earth where there is the outward acknowledgement of heaven’s authority during this present time. The kingdom of heaven is within the scope of the kingdom of God (see Luke 19:1212He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (Luke 19:12)). As the kingdom of heaven, it was announced as at hand by John the Baptist and revealed by the Lord Jesus, but as we know, the rightful King was rejected. Then it became a kingdom in mystery. In this form it begins at Christ’s ascension. When the Lord gathers the wheat into the barn, at His coming, its character is changed and it is called “the kingdom of their Father” — the heavenly side of the kingdom. The kingdom of God is a broader term; it also was announced by John the Baptist. It began while the Lord was on earth, and it will continue through the millennium into the eternal state. The imagery of the first two parables in Matthew 13 is taken from Leviticus 23 regarding the grain harvest of barley and wheat — the feast of firstfruits and feast of weeks (Pentecost). This imagery of sowing and harvesting grain portrays how the gospel is preached and souls enter into the kingdom; then at the end of the age the Lord will gather out of the field (the world) His heavenly harvest.
The Common Imagery
The Lord Jesus introduces the subject of the kingdom of heaven with the parable of the sower. The imagery from two of the feasts of Jehovah is used here because these two feasts prophetically describe the same time — the present day when the Lord is gathering a people for heaven. The waving of the sheaf of firstfruits was connected with the beginning of the grain harvest. It represents the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead as the beginning of a new harvest. The grain harvest continued the following seven weeks until Pentecost when there was a celebration before the Lord. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 builds upon this imagery to describe how people enter the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom as such could not exist until the Lord had risen from the dead. After his resurrection, He ascended into heaven and the kingdom of heaven began. This was unknown in Old Testament times, though it is hidden in the Scriptures in the imagery of the feasts of Jehovah.
No Monthly Dates
The feast of firstfruits and Pentecost found in Leviticus 23 have no monthly dates for their observance. The reason for this is that these two feasts are prophetic of the present time when heavenly things are our hope rather than earthly times and seasons. This is distinct from the other feasts which are prophetic of earthly events. These two feasts present a prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the harvest for heaven which follows. The reference point of these two feasts corresponded to when the barley was first ripe. The Israelites could not eat the new grain until the sheaf of firstfruits had been waved before the Lord by the priest. It was a prophetic picture of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. The first two parables in Matthew 13 expand on this theme, beginning with the sowing of the seed, and continuing until the harvest. During the present time since Christ has ascended into heaven, the kingdom of heaven is forming here on earth. He is gathering people into His kingdom. All who profess to know Him enter the kingdom of heaven. At the end of this age the harvest will be completed. But as we see in the following parable of the wheat and tares, many enter by profession. They are likened to the tares; they are not real. These will need to be separated from the wheat. At the end of this age, they will not enter into heaven.
“Flesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God”
One significant feature of the grain harvest is that when the fruit is mature, the plant dies; this is distinct from the harvest of the vine or olive tree where the plant lives on from year to year. When the Lord contemplated going back to heaven after finishing His ministry here on earth, He said to His disciples, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). This meant that unless He died as the grain of wheat, He could not have a people with Himself in heaven. The result of His death and resurrection is that He can have a people with Himself in heaven. A new life is necessary. Though “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:5050Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:50)), by receiving the word of the gospel we may enter the kingdom. For this to be possible, the Lord as the grain of wheat fell into the ground and died. Now through the message of the gospel we have the opportunity to receive this new life. With it we can enter heaven, though as yet we lack the transformation of the body. The good seed is sown in the hearts of men and women throughout the world with a view of having the grain harvest for heaven.
The Parable of the Sower
When the Lord Jesus related the parable of the sower, it was different from the previous messages. Instead of seeking fruit from man in his natural state, He offered something new. This was necessary because of the failure of man under law. The Lord begins His kingdom by sowing good seed. The Word of God is the good seed; the preaching of the Word gives new life. But there are hindrances to the reproduction of this fruit. The parable of the sower lists four types of ground where the seed could fall. The seed which fell on good ground produced varying amounts of fruit. But the seed in the other three cases failed to produce good fruit. Some fell “by the way side,” some on the “stony places” and other “among thorns.” These three cases portray what happens, in the first case, when Satan, the enemy, takes away what is sown in the heart; in the second case, what happens when the flesh is hard and unrepentant; and, in the final case, where the world chokes out spiritual growth.
Life, Growth and Fruit
In Mark’s gospel, along with the parable of the sower, there is an added section telling us how the good seed grows and produces fruit, though not perceived by observers. “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come” (Mark 4:26-2926And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mark 4:26‑29)). In the growth and development of the wheat plant, there are three stages: “the blade,” “the ear” and “the full corn [grain] in the ear.” All three are needed for the plant to reproduce fruit. The three stages correspond to life, growth and fruit. All three are necessary in order to bear fruit, and, thus, the need to be watchful against the three corresponding hindrances to the good seed producing fruit. These three hindrances are the wicked one, the flesh and the world. The wicked one takes away the life-giving seed, then there is no life. The second attack is from the hard-hearted flesh which hinders growth, and without growth such cannot endure. Third, the world chokes out fruit, the things of the present life choke the Word and no fruit is produced. The Lord desires much fruit even as every good farmer will work hard to produce a bountiful crop.
D. C. Buchanan